Page 106 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
I shuddered at his pet name. He’d called me that for months, usually when we were in bed and I was faking an orgasm.
He pushed off the stove and walked to the side of the island, casually propping himself against its edge and setting the gun on its granite top. He was dressed in black slacks and a gray button-down shirt. His ink-black hair was styled perfectly, giving him the deceptive appearance of a normal, handsome man, but his cunning black eyes betrayed him.
“Aren’t you going to say hello?” It wasn’t a request.
I cringed. “Hello, Anton.”
I wanted to scream, to run for my life, but it wouldn’t get me anywhere. Even if I shouted for Agent Mitchell, Anton would shoot me before I could be rescued. My feet stayed firmly on the floor as fear coursed through my veins. There would be no flight, and I wouldn’t survive a fight.
But at least I wouldn’t be going alone.
“They’ll kill you, Anton. The second the FBI comes through that door, you’re dead.”
He took a step away from the counter and spat, “Bitch, I’m already dead because of you.”
I shuffled backward but had nowhere to go. Only a miracle would save me now, and since I’d already had one of those where Anton was concerned, I didn’t think I’d be granted another.
My death would wreck my parents and brothers. Felicity would be destroyed. And Beau? He’d think he’d failed me.
A numbness settled into my skin. Maybe it was from fear. Maybe it was from sheer hopelessness.
“What do you want, Anton? To take your revenge on me, then go out guns blazing?” My cool voice shocked Anton and he eyed me suspiciously.
“Something like that.”
I stood firm in my spot as I braced for his approach. Just because I didn’t expect to survive a fight didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try. My bear spray was tucked away in my purse, too far away to grab, but Beau had given me another weapon.
Me.
I was no match for Anton’s size and strength, and he’d likely overpower me, but I’d use every self-defense move Beau had taught me and fight to my death. All I wanted was to inflict just a little pain on this fucking asshole before he killed me.
That momentary numbness was going away. Burning rage was bringing me back to life.
My spine straightened and my eyes challenged Anton to do his worst. Maybe this confidence was stupid. Maybe he’d go for the gun and I wouldn’t get the chance to fight back. But I was betting on Anton’s ego winning out. He had underestimated me once. Maybe I’d get lucky and he’d do it again.
He wasn’t just here to shoot me quickly and spit on my dead body. He could have done that already. No, he was here to do what he’d started last year but hadn’t gotten to finish.
Beat me, rape me, then choke the life out of me.
Anton stood taller, trying to intimidate me, but I didn’t cower. Instead I held his eyes in silence, daring him to make his move.
I was ready when he lunged for me, his hands reaching right for my throat. Just like Beau had taught me, I sidestepped and thrust a knee into his groin.
He grunted and doubled over as I tried to get a lock on his elbow but my hands were too slippery with sweat. When I tried to bend back his wrist, I lost my grip and he squirmed free. The shock of my attack quickly wore off and Anton turned, preparing to lunge for me again.
I took my opening and kicked out hard at his knee, not doing any damage, but the force of the blow was enough to make it bend, and Anton dropped to the floor.
With Anton down, I had a split second of freedom to scramble for his gun on the counter. The second my palm hit the cool black metal, Anton’s fist reached out and grabbed my hair.
As he jerked me backward, Beau’s words echoed in my mind.
Safety. Hammer. Trigger.
I twisted in Anton’s grip, pain radiating through my scalp.
Bang.
Twenty. Twenty-one. Twenty-two.
